1997.05.20-23, Hong Kong

Dream Team Finally Kicks Off
TK PAN-PACIFIC TOUR ’97!!
globe! Namie Amuro! TRF!… In short, they are the hottest lineup in today’s Japanese music scene, and on May 20 they landed in Hong Kong where they are known as the “Dream Team.” This is the first stage of the “TK Pan-Pacific Tour ’97” in Taipei, May 27 and 28, but the promotional leg in Hong Kong also included many impressive events. During the four-day visit, they managed seven to ten interviews, live recording for a TV show, and a live performance at the music convention center “MIDEM.” “No! Galers,” led by Cozy Kubo, also joined this Hong Kong phase. TK Family performed at its best. By the way, TK has been referred to as the “music god,” “music magician,” “godfather of Japanese music,” and so on. Pretty remarkable, isn’t it?

Wild House of 600
TV Studio LIVE!
On May 21, the day after arrival in Hong Kong, live recording of the TV show, loosely translated as “Top Songs Special,” takes place at local TV station TVB. Popular number one singer/ songwriter Emil Chau, nicknamed “Wacky,” served as host for the May 24 broadcast. In an unusual move by TK, he performed in collaboration with Wacky. Included was a performance of the standard number “How Deep Is Your Love.” TK Family’s gifted guitarist Kazuhiro Matsuo also happened to join in.

The Tour Heats Up
On Stage at MIDEM
The May 22 performance at “MIDEM” convention center forecasts the Asian music scene for the latter half of 1997. From the start of her introduction video, the audience began singing. That was the stage of Namie Amuro. On TRF’s stage, SAM’s break-style dance, in particular, won lots of cheers. And remarkably, shouts for KEIKO just kept on coming on globe’s stage. Also, there was a soulful performance by “No! Galers” and Cozy’s gags using loose Cantonese.

TK Family Message in Cantonese
As for TV and radio, TK Family had many interviews with the mass media. There were countless scenes of them giving messages in Cantonese. Also notable was TK’s discussion about each group of the Dream Team during a local cable TV interview. Here’s a small sample…. “KEIKO’s vocals are rounded, “wet” in a good sense. I think the Asian audience will like them. In her private life, she’s really close to her older sister. I grew up alone so I’m jealous.”
“I spend half the year with MARC. He is developing very quickly.” “Amuro has universal visuals. She doesn’t show anything outside but she fights off pressure with her fiery spirit.” “TRF’s history is like my history as a producer, and I’ve been through everything with its members. If young artists could see them training almost daily it would be a really good study. A respectable group.”

TK Family in Hong Kong — DATA
Comment PickUp!
I want to sing songs that the audience wants to sing (N. Amuro May 20 IVB Interview) / In Hong Kong, the air is moving, I feel the vibration, and people are hot (MARC/globe May 20 IVB Interview) / I visit Asian countries at least once a month. I’m into Asia. (TK May 20 IVB Interview) / People are warm and the temperature is also warm (SAM/TRF May 20 IVB Interview) / TK is my textbook (Cozy/No! Galers May 21 Press Interview) / Cozy has something I don’t have, that’s the talent of a comedian (TK May 21 Press Interview) / I was happy that people recognized me as a TRF member when I walked through Kowloon (DJ KOO/TRF May 21 Press Interview) / I hope that we will be able to do more exchanges with Asian people (YU-KI/TRF May 21 Press Interview) / I was impressed with the breathtaking night views of Hong Kong from the hotel room (N. Amuro May 21 Press Interview) / Amuro is the most successful singer among Japanese teenagers (TK May 21 Press Interview) / I wash; KEIKO is the driver (when asked “What’s your job in globe?” MARC/globe May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / It takes five to ten minutes to create one song. It takes six months to deliver it into the world. (TK May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / I’m happy to see TK up close as a producer and as an artist (KEIKO/globe May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / TK produces space and environment and also the lifestyle of all of us (MARC/globe May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / We are a documentary band (Hiroshi/No! Galers May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / We can’t make songs if the members are not in love (Cozy/No! Galers May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / I will do music with TK forever, anywhere in the world. Look for it (Cozy/No! Galers May 22 CABLE TV Interview) / I don’t fix a purpose; I find something as I work. I do it like that (N. Amuro May 23 TV Interview) / If the meeting time is 5:00, Chiharu and Etsu will be five minutes early. YU-KI and I will be there just at 5, the others at 5:15. (DJ KOO/TRF May 23 TV Interview) / There is a reason for coming late: trying to help an old woman carry parcels across the street, helping a child who is falling into the river, helping a puppy soaked in the rain… (SAM/TRF May 23 TV Interview) / The style has not changed, but the key words like techno and rave are changing into groove in the music sense. (DJ KOO/TRF May 23 TV Interview).

Song List in Hong Kong
(“Top Songs Special” unofficial name, IVB)
TRF: BOY MEETS GIRL / LEGEND OF WIND
Namie Amuro: SWEET 19 BLUES / CAN YOU CELEBRATE?
globe: Feel Like dance / Can’t Stop Fallin’ in Love / Anytime smokin’ cigarette (encore)
(MIDEM Stage)
TRF: BOY MEETS GIRL / LEGEND OF WIND / CRAZY GONNA CRAZY
Namie Amuro: Don’t wanna cry / SWEET 19 BLUES / CAN YOU CELEBRATE?
No! Galers: IT’S HEAVY TONIGHT / Akai Tsuki
globe: Feel Like dance / FACES PLACES / Can’t Stop Fallin’ in Love

 

Diary

who could find the Dream Team?
5.20. Airport, Hong Kong
May 20, PM, TK Family Dream Team (globe, TRF, Namie Amuro) finally arrives at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. They left Narita separately and met up again at Kai Tak. Even after 10, there’s a dark sea of camera-toting fans, almost all teenagers. Wild cheers when the Dream Team comes into view. The Dream Team leaves the airport by a special route leading to their waiting limos. Lucky are the fans who can glimpse the Dream Team as they’re engulfed by the swell. Wonder how many eyes and cameras could snap up their smiles.

we’re still in the air?
5.21. Afternoon, Convention Center, Wan Chai
The popularity of TK Family in Hong Kong is incredible. So they stick around Hotel Grand Hyatt where they’re staying and the Convention Hall next door for a ceremony honoring their Hong Kong return. The Convention Hall also houses “MIDEM,” the exhibition which forecasts the year’s music scene in Asia. On the 21st, a joint press conference is held. The Dream Team relaxes in the Convention Hall dressing room. Victoria Harbor ahead. The view is excellent. But is this everything for the Dream Team in Hong Kong? I was moved because the view of Hong Kong from the window was beautiful. Actually, N. Amuro was impressive with her comments.

the end? no! the party’s just begun.
last night in Hong Kong. no, the beginning. see you again in November!
5.22. MidNight, Hard Rock Cafe, Kowloon
The “MIDEM” stage show finishes up around midnight. Must have been a non-stop workout. The Dream Team leaves the convention center as soon as their set ends. Drove through the sea tunnel and Hong Kong to Kowloon. They’re having a party at Hard Rock Cafe in Kowloon to cap off the last day of the Hong Kong phase. They feel relief because they’ve almost finished the promo. The Dream Team drinks a toast with local artists and VIPs. Unexpectedly, MARC also hops into the DJ booth. Hong Kong is over. But this is just the beginning. It’ll be a big show in Hong Kong in November.

 

Interview with Komuro Tetsuya in Taiwan

Did you feel that this concert was a long time coming?
TK : “It was long, in fact. You know it all started around the time of the TK NEWS thing in June, and even then I had heard reports of Asian people listening to my music. This was a situation where they knew almost 100 percent of all the songs, right? I chose ‘SWEET 19 BLUES’ as something everyone could sing together at the end, and we were right on target because it became a big chorus, so I was happy.”

What other hits and misses did you experience?
TK : “Frankly, I had the unrestricted use of three artists. TRF gave an excellent build up at the beginning and set the tone of quality with their professional dance technique and performance, then they sustained this peak for Namie’s entrance so the audience would think, ‘Wow, she’s for real.’ I was watching on a monitor backstage and even when she was just standing there, I could feel the audience’s awe.”

TRF went on first. Were you nervous watching them from backstage?
TK : “Yes, I was. That was the most critical time for me, including my own part, not knowing what kind of response they would get when they entered. And after that, then came Namie, then globe, so I was not worried at all. Also, we just finished the Domes Tour a while ago.”

What is your impression of Taiwan?
TK : “It has many sides to it. Regarding entertainment, it’s really flexible and open to many things. Anyway, the response has been quite good. And it’s also hungry for music. As for politics and economic issues, frankly speaking, there are no official diplomatic relations yet with Japan, right? Even though there’s this really friendly side. It has an unusual dual personality, but regarding us, I think it’s a very friendly country. If I had to describe it in English, it would be ‘neighbor.'”

How will your future Asian activity spread?
TK : “Last time, we all went to Hong Kong together for promotion, but even after its return to China on July 1, I have the impression that it will still be flexible about entertainment. So, I suppose we’ll go to Chinese-speaking countries. After autumn. Right now, I have plans until then.”

After that will it be the U.S.?
TK : “About this, I could say I’m happy with a foreign artist feeling. But in regards to touring, you can’t just decide; gradually it moves into place as things progress. I think it’s not like in Japan where you say, oh, 50 places, book it. This isn’t something I can just answer because, if you think about a tour, it has to be packaged first, then it falls into place through a natural progression. This is the first time I’ve thought about it in this way, but I think this is natural….”